Beginning and Ending Ramaḍān when Traveling to another Community
Fatwa ID: DI01416
Question
Assalamu alaykum,
We usually spend the first half of Ramadan in a community which goes by moonsighting, but the other half in a community which goes by calculations. Should we follow moonsighting for the start and calculations for the end? If so, then what about the possibility that this leads to fasting 28 or 31 days?
Answer
Waʿalaykum al-Salām,
In the Name of Allah, The Gracious, The Merciful.
As per Hanafi fiqh and the majority of ulema, moonsighting -or the completion of thirty days- is the only acceptable method of establishing the new lunar month; only a marginal group of classical ulema considered calculations to be a valid method of establishing the new month. However, calculations may be used for verifying moon sighting reports. If one finds himself in a community where the surrounding masjids only follow the calculation method, they will be allowed to observe Eid with the rest of the community -as Eid is a communal occasion. If the count is 28 due to starting Ramadan by moonsighting, then as per Mufti Taqi Usmani, two days will be made-up (qaḍāʾ) after Eid. If one starts the month based upon moon sighting and ends based on calculations, it is impossible for the count to be thirty one days (based on the position that calculations may be used for verifying moon sighting reports.)
And Allah knows best.
